Manifolding telegraph-receiving blank.



Patented'M'a i. 5, mm.v E; HQWARD: MANIFOLDING TELEGRAPH RECEIVING BLANK. A lication filed Aug. 3, 1900. (N6 Iodal.)

lg mmam lam? av I am: uvl CHICK 6 RECEIVED Dated.

FFICE.

PATENT EMMETT HOWARD, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

MANIFOLDING TELEG RAPH-RECEIVING BLANK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,170, dated March 5, 1901.

Application filed August 3, 1900. Serial No. 25,820. ililo model.)

I Blanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in manifolding telegraph-receiving blanks, and has for its object to provide a blank with improved means whereby by writing upon the same a duplicate copy of the writing will be made; and it consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Heretofore it has been customaryin telegraph-offices where the messages are received for the operator to write the message upon the receiving-blank. Said blank is then given to a clerk, who places over the writing a sheet of dampened tissue-paper. When a number of these blanks have been superimposed one above the other, they are placed under a press or passed between pressure-rollers, so that what is known as a press-copy is taken of the telegram. In an office where hundreds of telegrams are received every day this requires the expenditure of considerable time. By the use of my invention I am able to dispense with this method of procuring copies of the telegrams and also to dispense with the services of a clerk for making such copies by providing a blank, as above described, so that the initial writing on the blank by the receiving clerk will at the same time cause the copy to be produced.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I have illustrated the same in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a face view of a telegraph-blank, a corner of the same being turned up to show the carbonized surface thereof and the attachment of the sheet of tissue-paper thereto. Fig. 2 is a view of the reverse side of said blank, a corner of the tissue sheet being turned up. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the blank and sheet of tissue-paper attached thereto, and Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating a modification.

The receiving-blanks of the character indicated are usually provided at the top with printed matter setting forth the name of the company, certain directions, and the name of the president and manager and other matters of this character. This space is indicated in the drawings by the numeral 1 and is separated from the remainder of the blank by means of a double ruled line 2. Below the line 2 is another double ruled line 3, and in the space between the lines 2 and 3 certain spaces are provided, in which are printed such Words as Number, Sent by, Received by, and Check. Beneath the line 3 is a space for writing, and this space is usually provided at the top with the printed words Received, Date, and To, arranged as indicated, and at the right-hand upper side with the characters 190 It will be seen, therefore, that the part of the blank extending from the line 2 to the bottom of the blank is the only part which will receive the writing or marks of any character. The reverse side of the blank is carbonized, as indicated at I, said carbonized surface extending from the bottom of the blank to a point corresponding to the line 2. A sheet of tissue-paper 5 is now secured at its upper edge to the reverse side of the blank along the upper edge of the carbonized surface, the line of attachment being indicated by 6. seen that a clear space 7 is left on the reverse side of the blank, such space being usually from an inch to an inch and a half in Width and extending the length of the blank. It will be seen, therefore, that by carbonizing only a portion of the surface of the blank and by using a sheet of tissue-paper which is of the width only of the carbonized space I make a considerable saving in the cost of producing my improved blank, which will be the more apparent when it is considered that millions of telegraph-blanks are. used annually. If desired, however, the tissue-sheet may be all the width of the blank and be secured along the upper edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 4, the numeral 8 indicating the tissuesheet in this figure and the numeral 9 its point of attachment to the blank.

The use of my improved blank will be apparent. The message being received, the receiving clerk writes the same upon the blank shown in Fig. 1, placing suitable marks,

It will thus be checks, dates, &c., in the spaces indicated. In Writing the message upon the blank the same will be reproduced upon the tissue-sheet 5 or 8, as will be readily understood. Said tissue-sheet may now be removed from the blank and kept for reference and the blank itself containing the message written thereon be sent to the person for whom the message is intended.

While I have stated that the reverse side of the blank has its surface carbonized, it will be apparent that I may use substances other than carbon for causing the Writing to be re produced, and I contemplate the use of any substance for the purpose indicated which will enable the writing to be reproduced on the tissue-sheet, either by the use of a pencil, stylus, or pen, or type-Writer.

I have used the term writing herein to indicate Writing by pencil, pen, or stylus or by the use of a type-writer. As a matter of fact, however, my blanks are intended espe' cially for use with a type-writer, and by reason of this fact it is necessary to use only a very thin coating of the transferring material or carbon in order to secure a good copy, whereas when the blanks are intended to be written on by a pen or pencil a heavier coating of the transferring material would be required. By employing only a very thin coating of the transferring material the cost.- of production of the blanks is relatively decreased. It will be seen that the blank is readily adapted for use on a type-writer, as there is nothing to interfere with its insertion in the machine.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A telegraph-receiving blank having a limited portion of its reverse side, corresponding to the space set apart for writing, carbonized, and a separate sheet of paper, of a width and length corresponding to said carbonized surface, secured at its upper edge along the upper edge of said carbonized surface.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMMET'I HOWARD.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS FENTRESS, J r., J. A. MARTIN. 

